Chapter 131 | The Failed Batch

Chapter 131: 131 | The Failed Batch

Deep within Alchemy Peak, the main alchemy chamber was filled with the intense heat of the furnace. Spiritual formations reinforced the stone walls, while a bronze cauldron stood at the center of the chamber, its surface covered with intricate qi patterns.

Elder Liu stood before the cauldron, her expression tense as she carefully controlled the raging flames. As an Early Stage Core Formation cultivator and 4-Star Alchemist, she was accustomed to handling difficult refinements with steady precision.

Tonight, however, things were different.

Without the high-grade Yang-attribute herbs, Elder Liu could no longer proceed with her planned refinement. The Phantom Burns had also become harder to suppress, especially as the night approached midnight.

She had tried to endure the worsening pain, but it was beginning to interfere with her control. After a brief hesitation, Elder Liu decided to use a small portion of her remaining Yang-attribute herbs in a batch of profound recovery pills to stabilize her condition.

"Prepare the ingredients," she ordered.

Several disciples immediately moved into action.

Soon, the ingredients had been arranged around the furnace. Elder Liu took a slow breath and raised her hand, sending a controlled stream of Core Formation Qi into the cauldron.

"Begin."

The flames rose beneath the bronze vessel as the ingredients gradually dissolved into a clear medicinal essence. For a moment, the refinement proceeded smoothly.

Then Elder Liu’s brow tightened.

The Phantom Burns flared again.

She steadied her breathing and continued guiding the refinement, forcing the rising pain into the background. Her Verdant Flame responded to her will, sending a stronger flow of fire Qi into the cauldron.

"Stabilize..."

The medicinal essence trembled as the unstable flow within her body began to interfere with the refinement. Elder Liu tried to correct the imbalance, carefully adjusting her Qi and slowing the circulation of the flames.

But the disturbance continued to grow.

Her control wavered for only an instant.

That instant was enough.

A sudden tremor passed through the cauldron as the spiritual balance inside it collapsed. The medicinal essence surged out of control, and the formation patterns across the bronze began to flicker.

Elder Liu’s eyes widened.

"The balance is breaking!"

She immediately tried to sever her spiritual connection to the cauldron, but the unstable Qi had already spread through the refinement array.

BOOM!

The lid of the cauldron was thrown upward and struck the stone ceiling with a heavy crash. A thick cloud of dark medicinal smoke burst into the chamber, carrying the bitter smell of burnt herbs.

The batch had failed.

A violent backlash traveled through the spiritual connection and struck Elder Liu before she could fully withdraw her Qi. She staggered backward, her face turning pale as the force shook her dantian.

A sharp gasp escaped her lips.

She dropped to one knee and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

But the backlash was only the beginning.

The sudden disruption of her Qi caused the Pill Toxicity within her body to flare violently. The Phantom Burns erupted through her meridians, sending waves of freezing pain mixed with burning Qi through her body.

Elder Liu clenched her teeth and tried to suppress the symptoms, but the pain continued to spread. Her fingers dug into the stone floor as the burning and cold tore through her meridians.

For a moment, even Elder Liu’s usual calm gave way beneath the pain.

The Phantom Burns were much harder to suppress than before.

The muffled explosion and her strained cry quickly reached the nearby disciples.

The heavy stone doors were pushed open, and Senior Disciple Han, Junior Disciple Mei, and Deacon Feng rushed into the chamber.

"Master!"

All three froze when they saw Elder Liu collapsed on the floor.

"Master!" Han cried, rushing to Elder Liu’s side. He lowered himself beside her, but the unstable Qi surrounding her body forced him to stop before touching her.

"Do not touch me," Elder Liu gasped, forcing herself into a seated position. Her breathing was uneven as she tried to circulate her remaining Qi and suppress the Phantom Burns.

Han’s expression tightened. "Master, what should we do?"

"I need pure Yang spritual herb," Elder Liu said, her voice strained. "Without it, I cannot suppress the Phantom Burns."

Han lowered his head, his hands tightening into fists. "The Resource Hall’s shipment is still delayed, Master."

Elder Liu’s eyes narrowed. "Still?"

"We don’t know how much longer it will take."

For a moment, Elder Liu said nothing. Her gaze shifted toward the ruined cauldron and then to the remaining supplies near the furnace.

She had been trying to preserve those resources.

Now she could no longer afford to wait.

"Then we will have to use the Underground Ghost Market," Elder Liu said.

Han looked up in surprise.

"Take my personal reserve of Mid-Grade Spirit Stones," she continued. "Find a reliable source of pure Yang herbs. Bring back whatever yang herbs is."

"Yes, Master."

Elder Liu’s gaze shifted toward Mei and Feng. "You two will go with him. Do not waste time arguing over the price. I need the herbs as soon as possible."

"Understood, Master."

The three disciples bowed hurriedly before leaving the chamber.

None of them noticed the faint movement near the outer edge of the chamber’s entrance.

Lady Yun remained concealed there, keeping enough distance to avoid drawing attention while still observing the aftermath. she watched the three disciples leave.

She had activated the dark-jade Recording Jade before the confrontation began.

The artifact rested quietly in her palm, preserving the sounds and visible events she had witnessed.

The Ghost Market was a place. This unexpected development had given her a new path to follow.

She carefully secured the Recording Jade and withdrew from the area, allowing the surrounding darkness to conceal her retreat.

She now had a clear record of Elder Liu’s worsening condition—and knew where her next move would lead.

Later that night, Lady Yun returned to the Cloud-Sea Pavilion.

Lin Tian sat quietly in the main hall, the Tier-3 isolation arrays humming softly around the chamber. His expression remained calm as he looked toward the entrance.

A faint movement stirred in the shadows.

Lady Yun emerged quietly and approached him before kneeling with a respectful bow.

"My Master," she said. "Elder Liu has ordered Han, Mei, and Feng to seek pure Yang herbs from the Underground Ghost Market."

She raised the dark-jade Recording Jade with both hands.

Lin Tian accepted it and examined the artifact for a moment before activating the recording.

The captured sounds and scenes played back through the jade.

He listened to Elder Liu’s conversation with her disciples and carefully noted the decision she had made after the failed refinement. Her urgency was obvious, but there was no sign that she had lost control of the situation.

Lin Tian remained silent as he reviewed the details.

Han had reacted immediately to the order, while Mei and Feng had followed without hesitation. None of them had wasted time questioning the decision. Elder Liu had also been careful with her remaining resources, showing that she understood how serious her current situation had become.

The recording ended, and Lin Tian lowered the jade.

"What else did you observe?" he asked.

"Her disciples were ordered to obtain the herbs as quickly as possible," Lady Yun replied. "They were also told not to waste time arguing over the price."

She paused briefly before continuing.

"Elder Liu appears willing to spend her personal reserve if necessary. She does not seem prepared to wait for the Resource Hall any longer."

Lin Tian nodded slowly.

That was useful information.

Elder Liu was under pressure, but she was still thinking carefully. She had not acted recklessly or exposed unnecessary weakness. Instead, she had chosen another path and was willing to pay heavily to secure it.

That mattered.

A single failed refinement would not make a Core Formation cultivator abandon her judgment. The purpose was not to destroy her with one decisive move. It was to make each solution slightly harder to reach until her dependence gradually increased.

"Did you interfere with them?" Lin Tian asked.

"No, Master."

"Good."

Lady Yun waited quietly.

"Let them search the Ghost Market," Lin Tian said. "Observe what happens, but do not interfere unless necessary."

Lady Yun nodded. "I will watch how they proceed and what they are willing to spend. I will also keep the matter separate from our other activities."

"Do that."

Lin Tian leaned back in his chair, his gaze thoughtful.

"The pressure has already changed her routine," he said. "There is no need to push harder yet."

Lady Yun understood immediately. One more disruption at the wrong moment could make the situation look deliberate.

"Let things develop naturally," Lin Tian continued. "Small inconveniences are more useful when they become a pattern."

"Yes, Master."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The Recording Jade rested quietly on the table between them, holding the events that had taken place at Alchemy Peak. Lin Tian glanced at it once before turning his attention back to Lady Yun.

Outside, the night remained peaceful.

Yet at Alchemy Peak, Elder Liu had already been forced to take a step beyond the routine she had relied upon.